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Showing posts tagged with: Point North Networks Inc.

Third Annual River Heights Chamber of Commerce Clay Shoot Open to the Community

Nicole Bengtson
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Editorials, Event News, Marketing

The River Heights Chamber of Commerce is excited to host its Third Annual Clay Shoot sponsored by Frattalone Companies on Thursday, September 19, 2019, at the South St. Paul Rod and Gun Club. Beginners are welcome and encouraged to participate.

Clay or trap shooting is growing exponentially in popularity across all ages and genders. It is the only sport where men and women compete together on equal footing. They shoot from the same stand, and in the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, will have double trap teams of one man and one woman.

Trapshooting is the fastest-growing high school sport in Minnesota. At the 2019 MN State Tournament, more than 330 high school teams featuring over 8,300 student athletes competed. Several universities and private trusts have monies allocated providing scholarships for young marksmen, male or female, creating a pipeline to Olympic competition.

There are many reasons for this surge in popularity. Primarily, it is an easy beginner sport. No experience is necessary and it is not physically demanding. Experienced marksman state that sport shooting is 90% mental. Concentration levels are sharpened and expanded. Multiple problem-solving activities involving logic, mathematics, and creative thinking (thinking “outside the box”) are needed and employed to succeed at any level of the shooting sports.

Clay shooting is a sport you can enjoy by yourself or with a team. Brian Martell of Point North Networks and Chair of the 2019 Chamber Clay Shoot believes, “It is a great environment for networking and a prime opportunity for businesses to sponsor the event. Businesses can sponsor a station, a sporting game or one of many other options.” Since first being introduced to the sport at the Chamber’s inaugural event, Martell now shoots regularly and uses his time at the Gun Club for team building and networking.

In addition to the traditional eight-station course, the event includes two popular games from last year. Players can vie for the title of Annie Oakley in the popular last shooter standing contest and teams of two can compete in the Duck Flurry, shooting from a duck tower that throws clays in multiple directions.

Prizes will be awarded to teams with the top course scores and the contest winners. Guns are available for those not using their own. Shells, protective eyewear and earplugs are provided at check-in. Registration opens at 1:00 pm, shotgun start at 2:00 pm with social/dinner/awards following around 4:00 pm. Sponsorship and event registration is available at www.RiverHeights.com/Clayshoot.  Raffle tickets on sale now at the Chamber office, $10/per ticket with only 500 tickets printed – win the Grand Prize of $1000 cash or 2nd place of $500 – do not need to be present to win!

No experience needed- Beginners Welcome! Novice or seasoned, it is time to test your skills.

April 2018 Member Spotlight: Point North Networks, Inc.

Nicole Bengtson
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Editorials, Marketing, Member Spotlight

Modesty, professionalism, relationships and transcending. These are the founding principles of Point North Networks, Inc.  Brian Emerson, founder and president of Point North Networks, Inc., has a background in computers and networking dating back to high school. Emerson worked for IT consulting firms and contracted with numerous businesses including BestBuy.com and Carlson Companies. This experience sparked Emerson’s interest to start his own IT firm. Emerson states, “I really enjoy new challenges and helping other businesses overcome their technology challenges.” With that drive and helpful nature, Point North Networks, Inc. was created.
In 2005, Emerson started Point North Networks, Inc., a data hosting company for websites, emails and business apps. Point North is a full-service IT company specializing in cloud hosting, server colocation, and managed IT services. Emerson explains, “In addition to having a friendly and knowledgeable tech support staff to help our clients on-site, we have been able to develop a wide range of services. We provide our own cloud hosting out of our Minneapolis data center as well as our own VoIP phone service. We do web design and maintenance, and provide IT cyber-security features, making us a true full-service IT company.”
The business started to take off due to their superb Google ranking. Point North Networks prides itself in exceeding customer expectations by providing their customers with superior IT services and support. Emerson proclaims, “Our overall success is composed of the small, daily victories that we have by helping our customers solve an issue. Over 10 years those can add up!”
Emerson and his staff have been active in the River Heights Chamber where they regularly attend and participate in networking and educational events.
Highlights include:
  • Member of the Business Owners Roundtable
  • Hosted a booth at the 2017 Small Business Trade Show
  • Presented on Cyber Security at the November 2017 Power Lunch
  • Point North staffer, Brian Martell, serves as a River Heights Chamber Ambassador
Emerson is proud to be in the River Heights Chamber and he is also proud of the success of his business. Emerson said, “I want Point North Networks, Inc. to become known as the most trusted IT services company in the Twin Cities that attracts and retains superior clients that hold themselves to the same high standards that we hold ourselves to.”Emerson makes sure to never forget those standards and has an interview hung in his office as a reminder. Emerson shared, “The Pioneer Press did an interview in 2016 with a 75-year-old business owner who was discussing his longevity in the business of being a blacksmith in the ornamental iron trades. He had a line that really resonated with me. He said, ‘give your customer a little more than they expect. You never have to look over your shoulder. Figuring out how to whittle them for 15 cents – That’ll bite ya.’ “
Watch Point North Networks, Inc. Member Spotlight video